In the early hours of 15 July Thomas Coville, sailing the 105 foot trimaran Sodeb’O, crossed the Lizard finishing line to claim a new solo transatlantic record of 5 days, 19 hours, 29 minutes and 20 seconds. This beat the previous record, set by Francis Joyon in the ‘old’ trimaran Idec, wrecked on the way back to France after finishing, by 8 hours, 32 minutes 17 seconds.
Sodeb’O, designed by Nigel Irens and Benoit Cabaret was badly damaged during a solo round the world attempt last year but was repaired in South Africa. The outright crewed transatlantic record, from Ambrose Light to the Lizard, is 4 days 3 hours 57 minutes and 54 seconds and is held by Franck Cammas’ trimaran Groupama 3. Yachting World, 15 July 2008